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Orlando (AP) - National basketball player Maxi Kleber has been awarded a special trophy for his strong performance in the 130: 124 victory of the Dallas Mavericks against Orlando Magic.
He got the belt for the best defensive player of the game, which the Mavericks have been awarding for a little more than a month after victories and which is visually similar to a world championship belt in boxing.
“He's nobody for spectacular moves, but within our system he's super valuable, and you saw that tonight,” said coach Rick Carlisle, praising the 29-year-old from Würzburg.
Kleber had 13 points and six rebounds as well as two blocks and was able to record a career record of three stolen balls.
“It's a huge honor when you get that.
But I don't even know whether I would have given it to myself, especially because (Nikola) Vucevic more or less always scored against me, ”said Kleber of the German press agency about the belt.
"But it's a cool honor and a huge incentive for the team to want to win every duel as an individual."
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Top scorer was again Luka Doncic with 33 points, ten rebounds and nine assists.
The triple double from two-digit values in the most important statistical categories hailed him, of all people, from Kleber, who was unable to utilize a pass in a four-on-one situation.
"I definitely screwed up his triple double today," said Kleber.
With their 17th win of the season, the Texans' balance sheet is positive for the first time in weeks.
Isaiah Hartenstein also recorded a victory with the Denver Nuggets, which kept their lead on Dallas and, as seventh, can continue to hope for sixth place and thus direct participation in the playoffs.
Thanks in part to 39 points from the regular center Nikola Jokic, the Chicago Bulls scored 118: 112.
The Atlanta Hawks had parted ways with coach Lloyd Pierce hours earlier after losing seven in the past ten games and worrying about a place in the playoffs.
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